Amusement device



Sep. 13, 1938. F ALVA AMUSEMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIIII lllllllkllll Filed Feb. 2, 1938 Faux HLVA w mffwl ATTO RN EYS Sept 13, 1938- F. ALvA AMUSEMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2,l 1938 et 1u FlG-4 Fia-5 Feux ALVA ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 13, 1938 UNiTsD sTATEs iBATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to devices useful in the performance of tricks of pretended magic and, more especially, to improvements in means for discharging cards or the like from an apparently l 5..; empty receptacle such as a hat.

It is among the more important objects of the present invention to provide a new and improved device for receiving and substantially automatically subsequently discharging a plurality of sets of cards from an apparently empty receptacle such as a hat, a box or a similar container.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device of the type h-ereinbefore referred to characterized in that it functions at a predetermined time interval after setting, thereby causing discharge of cards or the like from a receptacle or container when said receptacle or container is arranged so as to preclude manual operation by the user.

- It is another object of the present invention to provide a device of the nature referred to wherein means are included for discharging a first set of cards from the receptacle or container and later dsicharging a second set therefrom at a pre- 25.- determined time interval from the discharge of the first set.

Notable among the features of the device according to the present invention is that it can be substantially concealed within a hat or similar '.container, thereby providing the appearance of emptiness thereto, but will subsequently and automatically erect itself for discharge of cards;

It is also a feature of the device according 'to the present invention that it is compact and relatively simple to manipulate, thereby enhancing and facilitating its useful employment in tricks of mock magic.

It is also noteworthy of the device according to the present invention that it comprises a rela- 40 tively small number of parts, is formed of relatively inexpensive material and is comparatively simple to fabricate, thereby permitting c oncomitant economies of manufacture and/or repair.

Other objects, advantages and features of the device according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art during the course of the following description wherein a specific embodiment of the present invention, herein illustrated, will be described, it being clearly understood however that the illustrated preferred embodiment is given solely by way of example and is non-limitative.

In the drawings: 5.5,; Fig. l is substantially a Vertical sectional view of the preferred form of device embodying the present invention, shown in position within a hat-like container;

Fig. 2 is substantially a rear elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with a portion of the casing thereof removed to show the interior mechanism and with a spring member in extended position;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view with part of f the casing removed, similar to Fig. 2, except the spring member is shown in retracted position and certain interior parts are omitted for clearness; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View of Fig. 3, taken along the line 4 4.

Regarded in certain of its broader aspects, the device according to the present invention comprises a plurality of receptacles adapted to receive cards or the like and means associated with said receptacles whereby cards can be intermittently discharged therefrom at a predetermined time. Regarded from a somewhat less broad viewpoint, the device according to the present invention comprises a structure of the type hereinbefore referred to wherein spring-pressed members are substantially automatically successively tripped, thereby flipping or otherwise ejecting cards, positioned in said receptacle, therefrom.

In order to facilitate a clearer understanding of the matter of the present invention, the illustrated embodiment thereof will be hereinafter described.

Referring then to the drawings, the numeral Il generally designates a hat-like structure or receptacle wherein the device is positioned, the devi'ce itself being generally indicated by the numeral I I. It will be understood, of course, that the type of receptacle to be used in conjunction with the device according to the p-resent invention de- 40 pends to great extent upon the requirements of the user and, solely for purposes of illustration,

a hat is employed in the embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings.

The device itself, designated by the numeral 15 II, comprises a body l2 mounted on the bottom portion I3 of the member IB by means including bearings, one of which is designated at I4. A spring I5 connected to a loop I5a, formed in a portion of the body and attached to a support y phantom. This movement of the member I2 is 55k normally restricted by means including a trip lever |6 having a. bent end portion l1 adapted to serve as a latch and engaging with a portion of the member I2 fulcrumed near the place generally designated at I8 and provided with an outwardly extending handle portion I9, whereby the user or operator of the device can manipulate said lever arm, thereby` permitting said spring t to move said body l2 from horizontal into substantially vertical position. Control mechanism, generally indicated at 29 and hereinafter described, is also mounted on a side portion of the hat or other receptacle, substantially as shown in Fig. l.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, itw'illbe' seen that the device comprises a casing comprising a front portion 2|, a back portion' coinprising the members 22 and 23, side portions-24l and 25 and a bottom 28. The top of the casing is open and substantially unobstructed but is' divided by partition member 21 mounted on the sides 24 and 25 positioned substantially parallel` to the back and front portions and extending through said body |2 from the top thereof to a place near the bottom 26, being terminated in an upturned box-like portion including the parts 28 and-29 substantially as shown. It'will-befobserved that the partition 21 and the front' 2| define a receptacle 30, the bottom of which comprises a ledge or shelf-like member 3| attached to said front'part 2|, said receptacle being-adapted to receive a plurality of cards, certain of which are designated at 32.

A resilient spring-like member 34 mounted on a pin 35 positioned on a part of the partition member 21, normally tending to move the free end portion thereof to the upper part of the partition by means including a coil spring 31, is formed on the end thereof to provide a hook-like member 38 adapted to strike and eject cards 32 from said receptacle during the course of the upward movement of said hook-like end'portion. The hooklike end portion of the member 34 is, however, normally held beneath the bottoms of the cards 32 and the ledge 3| by means including a pivoted latch member 39 having a projecting formation 40 near the top thereof adapted to engage with said hook-like part of the member 34 and restrict the upward movement thereof. The member 39 is pivoted on the pin 4|. It will be noted that the member 39 normally tends to move in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 2, by meansincludingv a coil spring 42 attached to said leverat the place generally designated at 42a. The end por- '.tion of the lever is bent to provide apart` 45 having an opening formed therein adapted to receive but not engage with the slidablefbar-like member' 46 to be hereinafter described.

Bottom portion 28 of the receptacle, dened' f by the partition member 21 and the back part 2-2 in the body member, serves as a support for aflat resilient spring-like member which is pivoted thereto as at 5I, substantially as shown,A

and, when in extended position-would normally at least tend to move the free end portion of said member 50 to a position outside the receptacle. The free end portion `of the member V5|! is attached,

as for example by means of a pivot or similar fastening means 52, to a sliding crossbar 53 positioned within slot-like cutaway portions designated at 54 and 54a, formed in' the members 2'2 and 21, respectively. Although it will beseen that the member 5o normally tends to move the crosspiece 53 toward the upper portion of the slots ?V 54 and 54a, it will also be-obse'rved that this movement of the member 53 can be at least largely prevented by engagement of said member with the hook-like portion 56 of the lever 51 pivoted on the pin 58 and normally held against the stop 59 by means including a coil spring 60 attached to said lever arm at the place generally designated at 6|. Although in Figs. 2 and 3 only one of the levers 51 is shown, it will be observed upon scrutiny of Fig. 4 that a pair of these levers is provided, one on each side of the receptacle dened by the walls 22 and 21 and engaging with projecting end portions of the crosspiece 53, substantially as shown, said levers 51 being associated with each other by means including a crosspiece 5111i Cards 63 positioned Within said receptacle rest upon said crosspiece 53 whereby, upon disengagement of the hook-like portion 56 from the end-parts'of said crosspiece, said cards Will be forcibly ejected from said container by means including the resilient spring-like member 50.

Upright standards 10 and 1| attached to the front and back'v 2| and 23 and the sides 24 and 25 of the casing or body member, are providedwith openings formed therein adapted to slidably hold the bar-like member 4'8 substantially as shown. It will be noted that the end portion 46a of said bar-like member projects through an opening formed in the side 25 and that a collar 12 is xedly attached and carried on said bar-like member 46 and is arranged to abut against a resilient spring-like member 13 whereby said barlike member will normally be moved to cause said collar to abut against the upright standard 1|, substantially as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. It will also be -noted that the bar-like member 46 carries xedly attached thereon a collar 14 adapted to abut against parts of and actuate the lever 39 hereinabove described. A spring-pressed U- shaped member, generally designated at 15 and comprising side parts 16 and 11, united by a crosspiece 18 mounted on the member 48 by means including a pin 19, is normally held in substantially the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 by means including coil springs and 8| mounted on said pin 19 and engaging with parts of the side members 16"and 11; It willbe observed that a stop 8'2- of which is formed with a forked end 81 adaptedto engage with and holda portion of a cable release 88 having a projecting tongue-like member 89 which, when the members are assembled in the relationship shown, is positioned adjacent an operating plunger 90 of the delayed release mechanism. It will be noted that the opposite end of the cable release 86 is providedA with a threaded end partA adapted to engage with a threaded bushing in the side 24 of the body of the device, substantially as'shown in Figs. 2 and 3, whereby as the delayed release mechanism 20' functions, the projecting portion 9| of.I the cable 88 abutting against an'end part 92 'o'fthe barlike member 46 at least tends to move same against the force ofthe spring 13-.l It-will,-of 751l course, be understood that the delayed release mechanism employed in conjunction with the device according to the present invention will be of the type wherein the actuating plunger 99 moves outwardly from the gear box to depress plunger 89 of the cable release at a predetermined time interval from the time of setting, and that after the cable release mechanism has been actuated a predetermined time interval will elapse before pressure is released therefrom and the member 98 retracted into the gear box 85. Accordingly, it will be seen that during operation the bar-like member 45 is moved toward the right, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and subsequently moved toward the left, the first movement being caused by the positive action of the delayed release mechanism and the second movement being caused by the positive action of the spring 73 in conjunction with the retracting movement of the delayed release mechanism.

In operation, the delayed release mechanism generally designated at 2U, is set and started in operation. It will, of course, be understood that the body proper of the device generally designated at l2 will be positioned substantially horizontally, as in Fig. 1, being held in said position by means including the lever arm I6 as hereinbefore described. After demonstrating to the spectators that the hat or receptacle is apparently empty, the operator then positions the receptacle so that the interior thereof is not visible to the audience and by depressing the end portion I9 of said lever I5, the body I2 of the device is moved into substantially vertical position as shown in phantom in Fig l. Meanwhile the delayed release mechanism 20 has been functioning and at a predetermined time interval after commencement of operation of said mechanism, the barlike member 46 will be moved toward the right of the device as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thereby causing the collar 14 to engage with the portion i5 of the trip lever 39 and moving said lever in a counter-clockwise direction and releasing the hooked end portion 38 from engagement with the portion Ll!! of said lever, whereby cards positioned within the receptacle, dened by the front portion 2| and the partition 21, will be flipped or ejected therefrom as the free end portion of the member 34 moves upwardly in the manner hereinabove referred to.

As the member 46 continues in its movement toward the right, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the U-shaped member 'l5 rides over the end portion of the trip levers 5l and springs up behind same by reason of the coil springs 8| associated with said U-shaped member as hereinbefore described. At a predetermined time interval thereafter the plunger 9|] of the delayed release mechanism is retracted within the gear box 85, thereby permitting the bar-like member 4B to be moved leftwardly, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, by means including coil spring 13 acting against the collar 'l2 mounted on said bar-like member. As the bar-like member moves toward the left, the U-shaped member 'l5 engages with the trip levers 5T, it being noted that although counter-clockwise rotative movement of said members is precluded, clockwise rotation thereof is not; hence, as the member 45 moves toward the left as aforesaid, said arms 5l are moved in a clockwise direction, thereby disengaging the end portions 56 thereof from connection with the projecting parts of the crossbar 53, whereby cards 63 positioned within the receptacle dened by theback 22 and partition 2l, are ejected therefrom through means including the resilient compressed spring-like member. 50 hereinbefore described.

L It will be observed'then that during operation of the device, after displaying the receptacle to beV fore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: l. A device of the type described comprising a box-like casing, a relatively xedly mounted par- `tition Within said casing dividing the interior thereof into a first and a second compartment, means for positively ejecting cards and the like positioned in said rst compartment therefrom, means for positively ejecting cards and the like positioned in said second compartment therefrom, and means for intermittently actuating said ejecting means associated with said first compartment and for actuating said ejecting means associated with said second compartment at a predetermined spaced time interval after actuation of ejecting means associated with said rst compartment.

2. A device of the type described comprising a box-like casing, a relatively ixedly mounted partition within said casing dividing the interior thereof into a rst and a second compartment, means for positively ejecting cards and the like positioned in said first compartment therefrom, comprising a spring-pressed arm, a hook element carried on an end of said arm adapted to sweep through said first compartment and engage with cards therein during movement of said arm into extended position, a Vfirst latching means engaging with portions of said arm for holding same in retracted position, means for positively ejecting cards and the like positioned in said second compartment therefrom, comprising a spring-pressed bar vertically slidable'in said casing whereby said bar engages with cards positioned in said compartment as it moves to extended position, a second latching means engaging with portions of said bar for holding same in retracted position, and means for actuating said iirst and second latching means at predetermined spaced time intervals.

3. A device of the type described comprising a container having a base portion, supporting members carried on said base portion, a box-like casing, supporting means connecting said members and said casing whereby at least some rotativev movement of said casing relative to said container is permitted, a relatively xedly mounted partition within said casing dividing the interior thereof into a first and a second compartment, means for positively ejecting cards and the like positioned in said first compartment therefrom, comprising a spring-pressed arm mounted at one end of said partition, a hook element carried on the other end of said arm adapted to sweep through said first compartment and engage with cards therein during movement of said arm into extended position, a first latching means engaging with portions of said armfor holding same in retracted position, means for positively ejecting cards and-thelikeposition'ed in said second compartment therefrom, comprising arspring-pressed bar vertically. slidablein said casing-in slot-like openings formed in sidesV thereof whereby said bar engages with cards positioned in said compartment as it moves to extended position along said slots, a second latching' means engaging with portions of said bar for holding same in retracted position, and means for actuating said first and second latching means and associating said arm andbar respectively from engagement therewith at predetermined spaced time intervals.

4. A device of the type described comprising a box-like casing, a relatively xedly mounted partition within said casing dividing the interior thereof into a firstl and a second compartment, means for positively ejecting cards and thelike positioned in said rst compartment therefrom comprising a spring-pressed arm, a hook element carried on an end of said arm adapted to sweep xthrough said first compartment and engage with portions of said bar for holding same in retracted position, means for actuating said first and second latching means at predetermined spaced time intervals comprising a spring-pressed slidable rod, means for imparting substantially uniform reciprocating movement of predetermined rate to said rod, means comprising a relatively stationary lug carried on said rod engaging with said rst latching means whereby as said rod is moved in one direction said latching means is actuated and said spring-pressed arm is released, and means comprising a spring-pressed lug carried on said rod engaging with said latching means and adapted to actuate same, releasing said bar only when said rod is moved in a direction opposite from that causing actuation of said rst latching-means whereby duringthe reciprocation of said rod said rst latching means is actuated and, at a predetermined time interval thereafter, said second latching means is actuated.

5. A device of the type described comprising a container having a base portion, supporting members carried on said base portion, a box-like casing, supporting means connecting said members and said casing whereby at least some rotative movement of said casing relative to said container is permitted, a relatively fixedly mounted partition within said casing dividing the interior thereof into a irst and a second compartment, means for positively ejecting cards and the like positioned in said rst compartment therefrom, comprising a spring-pressed arm mounted at one end of said partition, a hook element carried on the other end of said arm adapted to sweep through said first compartment and engage with cards therein during movement of said arm into extended position, a first latching means engaging with portions of said arm for holding samev in retracted position, means for positively ejectingcards and the like positioned in said second compartment therefrom, comprising a spring-pressed bar vertically slidable in said casing-in slot-kike openings formed in sides thereof whereby said bar engages with cards positioned in said compartment asl it moves to extended position along said slots, asecond latching means engaging with portions of said bar for holding same'in retracted position, means for actuating said first and second latching means and associating said arm and ba'r respectively from engagement therewith at predetermined spaced time intervals, comprising a spring-pressed slidable rod,` means for imparting substantially uniform' reciprocating movement of predetermined rate tosaid rod, means'comprising a relatively stationary lug carried on said rod engaging with saidl rst latching means whereby as said rod is moved in one direction said latching means is actuated-and said spring-pressed arm is released, and means comprising a spring-pressed lug carried on said rod engaging with said latching means andadapted to actuate same, releasing said bar only whensaid rod is moved in a direction opposite from thatcausing actuation of said first latching means whereby during the reciprocationiof said rod said first latching means is actuated and at a'predetermined time interval thereafter said second latching means is actuated.

FELIX ALVA. 

